How to Choose the Right Brake PadsHow to Choose the Right Brake Pads
Sooner or later, you get to decide what level of maintenance your car needs, especially when it comes to parts that tear and wear out regularly. One item that is crucial to your safety is the brakes, and more specifically, the brake pads. The good news is that there are numerous choices when it comes to brake pads.
Replacing brake pads is an excellent job for the do-it-yourself mechanic. It is not difficult, and when you do it yourself, you can be sure you are using quality parts and still save money. One crucial step is to choose the right brake pads. That depends not only on the vehicle but also the driver. Different drivers have different expectations when it comes to how their vehicles’ brakes should perform. When choosing the right brake pad, you should look into the following factors:
Bonded and Riveted Friction Material
All brakes need to have a soft friction material attached to the sturdy metal backing plate. Brake mechanics use two methods to attach the friction material to the backing plate that is by bonding with an adhesive or riveting with high strength rivets. Bonding is efficient as it allows the brakes to last slightly longer because as the friction material wears down, the rivets make contact with the brake rotors or drums and squeal a bit when they are worn out. By the time you hear the screeching of rivets making contact with the drums or rotors during braking, take the initiative to change the brakes.
Driving Requirements
Buying replacement brake pads require you to decide on the material used. At this point, you should determine how severe your braking needs are. Some things you can consider are such as the climate, topography, traffic patterns, and your tolerance to avoid that squeal.
Organic, Semi-metallic, Fully Metallic and Ceramic Brake Pad Materials
Before choosing a brake pad, it is essential
to take a long good look at these materials and see what works and what does not work for your vehicle. Semi-metallic brakes are the topmost recommended brakes as they are composite of soft metals embedded in the friction material, which enhances braking. However, this wears out the drums or rotors a bit faster than the organic materials. Semi-metallic brake pads are an excellent all-around choice for commuter vehicles, and they are reasonably priced.…